In 1947, WTMJ-TV became the first commercial television station in Wisconsin and the 15th nationally to broadcast commercially, according to "Milwaukee Television History: The Analog Years," by Dick Golembiewski. But it did not begin life at the now familiar Channel 4 dial location.

It was first assigned Channel 3, in 1940.

At the time, television was in its infancy and experimental stages, and its development was delayed by World War II. »Read Full Blog Post

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I have been able to find the local CBS affiliate on Channel quite easily. If I want to watch WTMJ on TWC I will be able to find it. I probably can commit it to memory as well as other channel numbers. The real problem is that if TMJ comes back to a different channel people will remember this dispute. They won't forget WTMJ is channel 4 anymore than they forget the CBS is 58. This gets funnier by the minute.

Maybe Mr Wexler could whine about the fact that WTMJ hasn't broadcast on channel 4 since digital tv was mandated; they are actually on channel 28 now but their signal carries a code to tell the tuner that it is channel 4

Then don't buy their services? Aside from initial signup deals, the standard price any company charges for cable/satellite is roughly the same (at least in my research). Sure, the initial deal you're given is cheap, but in the end, the regular price of your package will generally be close to the same across providers.

And just because it costs about the same as other providers doesn't mean that the customers are not being exploited. Don't forget that everyone who buys cable or satellite TV service is dealing with an oligopoly at best, and more likely a monopoly.

While I think TWC putting the Game Show and Tennis networks on channel 4 is a bit ridiculous, I can't help but think that WTMJ's whole strategy of extracting more retransmission fees has backfired on them tremendously.

Give it up JBG. You've already lost. Like I tell my kids when I bust them for something and they lie to me about it, "Quit while you're behind!!" Nobody cares that you're off the air. Nobody's even noticed other than the daily propaganda that you mindlessly put on your website(s). You need TWC WAY WAY more than they'll EVER need you. Drop the ridiculous request for a 200% increase, and get your station back. TWC won't gloat.

Exactly. If not for JBG's propaganda on their radio and TV stations and website(s) there has been no local outrage to have "channel 4" back on. That is most telling. Even with the JBG's push for rebates, and missing Packer games, their is still no public outcry. Wexler should polish up the resume, as he needs to be replaced.